What are the right questions to ask when buying vintage timepieces?

[Rjknapp]

As someone who is just starting out and would prefer to avoid over paying for poor quality or fakes, what are the questions that the seasoned collectors among you ask up front? Not just for Rolex's but generally for all vintage watches?

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by Rjknapp

As someone who is just starting out and would prefer to avoid over paying for poor quality or fakes, what are the questions that the seasoned collectors among you ask up front? Not just for Rolex's but generally for all vintage watches?

Ask, Ask, Ask. There are a ton of fakes out there (I got recently burned but got a refund). Study, Study, Study. If you don't want to make the effort go through one of the dealers here with a good rep to have them find what you want.

[cruvon]

I also recommend you go through these vintage terms list before you ask the sellers any questions, will give you a deeper understanding on vintages before you begin your hunt. Offcourse you can shoot as many questions on those terms in that list here on the forum or look up historical threads to learn some more.
http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...highlight=list

[Mike Wood]

Well, here's the wrong one:

"Will it be a good investment..?"

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by Mike Wood

Well, here's the wrong one:

"Will it be a good investment..?"

, that's one question that's too late for you to ask Mike

[harry in montreal]

How much?

i am kidding but generally there are few Good Deals on rolexes. they are somewhat like commodities. the prices are generally known especially with the desirable sport watches. you need to

-figure out what you like
- what you want to spend
- spend time looking at pics and holding watches to learn to assess condition.

condition is everything. everything.

[joe100]

Do the research yourself. No instant gratification but if you become your own expert you can't go wrong

[motoikkyu]

"What can you tell me about this one?" is always a good opener because it allows you to assess just how knowledgeable the seller is. I have bought a fair number of watches at flea markets and open-air events, if the price is low enough, don't be too much of a jerk (got a LeCoultre for five dollars, once). Use common sense - not a lot of Longines fakes in the 1950s, but some unique movements that are MURDER to get spare parts for, etc. Buy what you personally like and assume that you will be stuck with each and every piece until you take the dirt-nap: resale depends on so many factors that there are no guarantees. But Rolex oysters seem to have a certain established value that is readily track-able: the 1601 that I paid $1500 for in 1992, on a stretched original jubilee band, is still worth about $1600, will only go up with the rate of inflation, but probably won't drop too much (sorry, bubble-back guys).

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by joe100

Do the research yourself. No instant gratification but if you become your own expert you can't go wrong

HAGOne

[Rjknapp]

Thanks to all of you. I've beenreading a lot and looking at A LOT of watches and generally going through the list of recommended vendors. I'm interested in purchasing an all gold datejust similar to this:...... or an old cellini. I love the old (50's & 60's) all gold style on a leather strap with linnen, waffle, champagne dials.

As a follow up, I'd love to know what kinds of questions you guys feel are specific to these types of watches that might be something a first timer might not ask (as opposed to making sure that it's triple signed, etc).

As I mentioned this is going to be my first Rolex and I desperately want to have a good experience. I'm shopping in the $3k to $5k range so def not on the same level as many of you. I'd still like to know what the classic Rolexes in this style are and what fair pricing looks like.